New to the Team

Welcome Jeanne! Get fitted for a proper running shoe if you haven't already. It is a blast to get out there and see progress from one week to another:) Come on over to the general discussion page to meet all the crazy rookies.

Good morning and Welcome!!! Way to go on joining Spark and looking to start a running program! I know I did pretty much the same thing when I first joined Spark in 2009; however, it took me a little longer to decide I wanted to run as I didn't start Couch to 5k until July of that same year. But I haven't stopped since!!

I know that Spark has a similar program that is comparable to C25K, although I can't speak to it too much as I did the actual C25K program back before Spark even had theirs available. I believe it is on the running resource page maybe under Articles & Videos?

There is also a variety of apps for smart phones too if that is something you are interested in. I had to re-do C25K as I was recovering from knee surgery and I did one from the iTunes store from Zen Labs and it was fantastic!

As far as tips as you get started I know most of the walk to run plans give you a time OR a distance to run for (e.g. run for .25 mile or 2 minutes)...I highly recommend to run for TIME only. When you are just getting started, and even for me as a runner for years, finishing the distance in their prescribed time could be close to impossible. I know that the C25K program has you running a 5k in 30 minutes by the end...for me that is a big YEAH RIGHT!!! Not going to happen...LOL So just have the goal to run for 30 minutes instead and don't worry about the actual distance or how far you can go. Trust me, speed comes over time as long as you are consistent and run on a regular basis.

The other tip - have fun!!! Yes, it will be hard and challenging, but have fun watching your body change and improve. I know I felt like a herd of elephants that couldn't traverse more than a few steps without wanting to die when I started. But over the weeks in the program I began to feel more like maybe just a single elephant that could cross a small savanna without too much issue! :-)

You WILL improve and it WILL get easier...trust me! And one last thing - you CAN do it!!! I firmly believe that anybody who truly wants to be a runner CAN.

Good luck and just post questions as you need to or feel free to hit me up!

Welcome! I started a C25K back in October and had to quite because my Dad had some health issues. I just started again two weeks ago. I am using the Sparkpeople 8 week rookie running Program (5K Your Way). There is also a thread in this group for C25K. I actally do not have a desire to run. I promised my sister I would do a run with her so that is what initially got me doing this. The other thing that is also pushing me is my time is limited on when I can workout and was having a hard time getting to an exercise class at a time I could go, but I can runn anytime and if the weather would get nice (live in Wisconsin) I can run anywhere. I started week 3 this week but it has been a struggle. Let me know how you are doing, maybe we can learn together and support each other.

Hello Everyone, My name is Jeanne and I want to run. I am fairly new to Sparkpeople as well (3 weeks). I am currently looking to find the couch to 5K program and trying that to get started. Any other thoughts or suggestions that I should try?

Have faith in yourself and don't ever give up. If you fall off the wagon stand up, brush yourself off and get back on.

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